The Metropolitan sits at a unique intersection defined by a beautiful boulevard that weaves its way through Grandview, Columbus and Upper Arlington. This intersection is the front door to a mix of single-family homes, apartment buildings, and businesses of various scales and densities. There is a unique energy created by these boulevards as they break the regular orthogonal street grid. The Metropolitan’s architectural style celebrates this convergence of this street grid energy and activity.

 

The defining shape of the building is in a classic “flatiron” form. A wrap-around corner lobby and well-glazed living units above reinforce the prominence of the intersection and create a welcoming beacon. The massing and height of the building serve to anchor the overly wide, confusing intersection, and bring order to it through a well proportioned height-to-width of street ratio.

The building attempts to compliment the site’s energy and excitement through its architecture. It captures the eclectic qualities of this early 20^th century neighborhood architecture while allowing people to live the contemporary lifestyle of today. The building exterior is designed from the inside out. Open living spaces spilling out onto breezy balconies that afford prominent views of downtown from many of the units.

 

Carefully proportioned areas of solid wall and recessed balconies serve to break down the scale, to one appropriate for this neighborhood. The building material and detailing reflect the eclectic tradition of the neighborhood, drawing from classic 1930’s American “brick deco” residential architecture throughout Northwest Boulevard and the neighborhood. Carefully located horizontal accent brows add a sense of scale and articulation to the building. A warm, earthy color palette with an accent color is used throughout to allow the building to harmoniously coexist with the surrounding neighborhood. Parking is hidden within the building, accessed through an alley, and masked by decorative grillwork in keeping with the style of the architecture.

Urban America is realizing unprecedented infill and redevelopment activity. What is the proper form of this investment in urban neighborhoods such as this? Healthy communities recognize that increased density and a mix of living styles bring vitality. The luxury condominium in existing neighborhoods and downtown is in high demand.. Empty nesters and retirees now have an option to remain in their current neighborhood with this alternate, one-floor living unit with enclosed, secure parking.

 

Located on a bus line and at the intersection of two major thoroughfares, this site affords access to many of the mixture of uses that comprise a high quality of life in this desirable neighborhood. The Grandview strip of restaurants and shops is a short walk away. This site offers an ideal opportunity to meet the lifestyle expectations of many residents who otherwise would be forced to seek housing in the suburbs. Other thriving cities are welcoming such vital development plans as key ingredients to urban re-investment.